Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in Australia
Australia: Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) was 1.3% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Australia, 1991–2022
Source: Staff estimates. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Australia is 1.3%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 4.1% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Australia peaked at 57.6% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2021.
That places Australia 176th out of 184 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 57.6% | — |
| 1993 | 8.2% | -85.8% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 8.1% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | -4.6% |
| 1999 | 7.0% | -9.9% |
| 2000 | 6.9% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | -77.0% |
| 2002 | 1.5% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 1.6% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 1.3% | -18.0% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +77.7% |
| 2009 | 1.6% | -39.2% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | -14.4% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 1.3% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.3% | -7.0% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 1.3% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 1.2% | -6.9% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | +4.1% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.1%, 31% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.2%, 20% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | -85.8% | 57.6% | 8.2% |
| 2008 | +77.7% | 1.5% | 2.6% |
| 2001 | -77.0% | 6.9% | 1.6% |
| 2009 | -39.2% | 2.6% | 1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.1% | 7.0% | 57.6% | 6 |
| 2000s | 2.2% | 1.3% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More private sector data for Australia
- Merchandise trade 36.0% (2025)
- Food imports 6.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 74.3% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 310.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 114.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 13.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 9.8% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 337.58 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 90.90 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 12,225 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Australia?
- Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products in Australia was 1.3% in 2022, according to Staff estimates.
- What is the highest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.6% in 1991.
- What is the lowest tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2021.
- How does Australia rank for tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products?
- Australia ranks 176th out of 184 countries with data for 2022.
- Is tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, published as part of Tariff rate, applied, simple mean, primary products (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Simple mean applied tariff is the unweighted average of effectively applied rates for all products subject to tariffs calculated for all traded goods. Data are classified using the Harmonized System of trade at the six- or eight-digit level. Tariff line data were matched to Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) revision 3 codes to define commodity groups. Effectively applied tariff rates at the six- and eight-digit product level are averaged for products in each commodity group. When the effectively applied rate is unavailable, the most favored nation rate is used instead. To the extent possible, specific rates have been converted to their ad valorem equivalent rates and have been included in the calculation of simple mean tariffs. Primary products are commodities classified in SITC revision 3 sections 0-4 plus division 68 (nonferrous metals).